To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

72 Asian American Students
Asians as a Stereotypical Block in American Minds
I think it is [an issue] on campus. I think the reason that I have more in common with
a Japanese person than an American person is because we kind of have the same
background—coming over here, having to make the same experience when we grow
up, and being Asian American. But it’s like, I think—it’s really hard to—I know we
have different cultures, but I think what groups us most is the fact that we have the
same background when we came over here. Our experience as Asian Americans here
does make a link between us that seems natural to us.
Questions are like ice breakers, like “Where are you from?” Even if it’s another state. If
I was sitting next to somebody, and it was a White person and I wanted to start a
conversation, I would say, “Where’s your hometown?” or something like that.
I had an interview to get into [our academic program]. And the interviewer broke the
ice by asking me where I was from. Then we went on to talk about the food because he
wanted to know about the food of Vietnam, and that made me feel really comfortable.
I just wish that teachers wouldn’t think that we’re all smart, because that puts a lot of
pressure on us. Sometimes it is an advantage but, sometimes they assume “She’s going
to do well, so she doesn’t need the help” or something like that. I wish that they don’t
have that same mentality. So that’s another stereotype about Asian Americans—they
study all the time, and they should be making good grades, so I don’t need to worry
about them. I mean, it’s a good stereotype, it’s a good thing to be, but... it [sometimes]
does make it easier to ask for help, because they think “It’s not going to be a dumb
question.” I think that, stereotypes like that, you know, things like that, being smart,
there’s good and there’s bad.
What a Teacher Can Do
I like the conferences where they allow you to sign up for a day. We had an English
teacher who had a conference at the beginning [of the class] where we were just talk-ing,
and we had a conference at the end. I thought it was kind of neat to meet, at least
twice, throughout the semester even if you didn’t have any questions. But [it was good]
to have a conference at the beginning that was required and a conference at the end
that was required. You don’t even have to talk about the course. You can talk about
anything, “How are you doing?” and “How much work do you have?” something like
that. It was so much more comfortable.

72 Asian American Students
Asians as a Stereotypical Block in American Minds
I think it is [an issue] on campus. I think the reason that I have more in common with
a Japanese person than an American person is because we kind of have the same
background—coming over here, having to make the same experience when we grow
up, and being Asian American. But it’s like, I think—it’s really hard to—I know we
have different cultures, but I think what groups us most is the fact that we have the
same background when we came over here. Our experience as Asian Americans here
does make a link between us that seems natural to us.
Questions are like ice breakers, like “Where are you from?” Even if it’s another state. If
I was sitting next to somebody, and it was a White person and I wanted to start a
conversation, I would say, “Where’s your hometown?” or something like that.
I had an interview to get into [our academic program]. And the interviewer broke the
ice by asking me where I was from. Then we went on to talk about the food because he
wanted to know about the food of Vietnam, and that made me feel really comfortable.
I just wish that teachers wouldn’t think that we’re all smart, because that puts a lot of
pressure on us. Sometimes it is an advantage but, sometimes they assume “She’s going
to do well, so she doesn’t need the help” or something like that. I wish that they don’t
have that same mentality. So that’s another stereotype about Asian Americans—they
study all the time, and they should be making good grades, so I don’t need to worry
about them. I mean, it’s a good stereotype, it’s a good thing to be, but... it [sometimes]
does make it easier to ask for help, because they think “It’s not going to be a dumb
question.” I think that, stereotypes like that, you know, things like that, being smart,
there’s good and there’s bad.
What a Teacher Can Do
I like the conferences where they allow you to sign up for a day. We had an English
teacher who had a conference at the beginning [of the class] where we were just talk-ing,
and we had a conference at the end. I thought it was kind of neat to meet, at least
twice, throughout the semester even if you didn’t have any questions. But [it was good]
to have a conference at the beginning that was required and a conference at the end
that was required. You don’t even have to talk about the course. You can talk about
anything, “How are you doing?” and “How much work do you have?” something like
that. It was so much more comfortable.